iPad mini

In some potentially exciting news for people who have been waiting for the second-generation iPad mini to come out, Digitimes reports that Apple (AAPL) is cutting its iPad mini shipments in the second quarter of 2013 “to between 10-12 million units.” Digitimes‘ sources also say that Apple is currently “adjusting its reserves for the next-generation iPad mini, which is likely to be released in the third quarter.” This lines up with earlier rumors we’ve heard that the second-generation iPad mini will launch this fall and will come with the same high-resolution Retina display found in the 9.7-inch iPad and the iPhone 5.

A recent report claims Apple (AAPL) is prepping its second-generation iPad mini for launch ahead of the holidays this year. Following a report suggesting the new Retina-equipped iPad mini could debut as soon as next month, a pair of reports claim the tablet’s release is instead slated for sometime this coming fall. CNYes reported on Monday that Apple is aiming for a third-quarter launch, and DisplaySearch analyst Paul Semenza recently told CNET that the second iPad mini will likely launch in the third or fourth quarter this year. Apple’s next-generation iPad mini is expected to feature a new 8-inch Retina display with 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution.

One disappointment with Apple’s (AAPL) iPad mini was that it didn’t come with the high-resolution Retina display that the company first used in its third-generation iPad models. While many Apple fans were hoping that the company would release a Retina-equipped iPad mini this spring, a new report from Chinese website CNYes suggests that we might have to wait until the third quarter of 2013 to see an upgrade for Apple’s smaller tablet. The good news for Apple is that the lack of a Retina display hasn’t hurt demand for the iPad mini at all since CNYes says that Apple plans to ship 55 million units this year alone. Given that Apple shipped more than 13 million iPad minis in the fourth quarter of 2012 and that smaller tablets are expected to grow even more popular throughout 2013, Apple likely feels no need to rush a second-generation iPad mini as long as the first-generation model keeps selling well.

A report from earlier this week suggested that Apple (AAPL) panel supplier AU Optronics is currently developing the new Retina display for the company’s upcoming second-generation iPad mini. Now, photos of the next-gen iPad mini case may have leaked for the first time, revealing a sleek slate that unsurprisingly bears a striking resemblance to the current model. A user on Chinese-language WeiPhone published the images on Thursday, and they show a rear shell that is similar to the first iPad mini’s casing but perhaps slightly thicker to accommodate the Retina display. No other details were provided, but additional images of the possible new iPad mini case follow below. More →

Apple (AAPL) launched the iPad mini just three months ago, but the upgraded Retina display for the firm’s upcoming sequel is already in development, according to a new report. With its unnamed industry sources back in business after the long break for Chinese New Year, Digitimes reported this week that Apple supplier AU Optronics has increased its iPad mini display yield to 1 million panels per month after overcoming some manufacturing issues. The site also says AUO has begun developing the panel for Apple’s next-generation iPad mini, which is expected to launch later this year with a Retina display. No details surrounding the next-generation iPad mini’s display were supplied in Digitimes’ report.

Like other new mobile products Apple (AAPL) has launched in recent years, the company’s iPad mini has been in short supply ever since it was released this past November. The sleek device added a new, lower price point to Apple’s tablet portfolio and some analysts believe it will soon be more popular than Apple’s full-size iPad. While demand remained strong through the holidays, Apple managed to improve iPad mini supply and get shipping times for new orders placed in Apple’s online store ahead of the holidays down to 1 week. Now, shipping quotes are down to 1-3 business days, marking the best turnaround time Apple has seen since launching the new device. BGR reviewed the iPad mini last November and called it Apple’s best tablet yet.

Apple (AAPL) may be about to make up for delivering a disappointingly low resolution for its first-generation iPad mini display. BrightWire reports that supply chain sources have told Chinese website My Drivers that the next-generation iPad mini will indeed feature a 7.9-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, or 324 pixels per inch. For comparison, consider that the original iPad mini delivered a resolution of just 163 pixels per inch, less than both the Amazon (AMZN) Kindle Fire HD and the Google (GOOG) Nexus 7, which both featured displays with resolutions of 216 pixels per inch. BrightWire’s report also backs up earlier rumors we’ve heard about Apple choosing AU Optronics to make an HD Retina display for its next-generation iPad mini.

We asked a bunch of people what the best product to giveaway on BGR would be, and an overwhelming majority told us it was an iPad mini. That means we’re up to bat with a brand new iPad mini of your color choice and all you have to do to enter to win is follow a couple easy steps below.

• To enter all you have to do is take a BGR survey which will help shape the site going forward and that link is here and below.
• We will run the contest for one week, until February 4th at 11:59PM.
• You can also follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook if you want to be extra sweet.
• The contest is open to everyone ages 18 and older, and it’s not limited to the United States.

Literally, that’s it. To enter click here for the BGR survey.